Method of and apparatus for making paper



Get. 4; 1932. E. E. BERRY 1,880,692 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING.PAPER Filed June 27, 1931 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1932. E. BERRY 71,880,692 METHOD 0? ANDAPPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER I Filed June 27, 19s12 Sheets-Sheet 2' Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PA'rsrni fort- IceEARL E. BERRY, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR '10 BELOIT IRON WORKS, OFBELOIT,

WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION 011i WISCONSIN mn'rnon 01' AND nrrana'rus ronMAKING runn App1ication filed June 27, 1931. 1 Serial no. 547,214.

Thisinvention relates to a method of and apparatus for making fibrousweb material. More particularly the invention relates to a method of andapparatus for making paper of a somewhat stratified character y'etunlike paper or board made on a multlple cylinder machine, of a unitarynature, incapable of separation into its constituent layers upon soakingin water.

It is common practice in maln'ng heavypaper or board on a multiplecylinder machine to use different stock finishes 1n the differentcylinder vats in order to obtain desired charcteristics. in the finishedproduct,

- state, as by passing in superimposed relation on a carrier feltbetween press rolls. Consequently, paper made on a multiple cylindermachine has a tendency to separate when moistened into its. constituentlayers.-

It is also known to make multi-ply paper on Fourdrinier machines by theuse of several forming wires but, aside from the greater expense ofmanufacture, such multi-ply paper is also subject to similar objectionsto those above referred to.

The present invention contemplates the manufacture of a somewhatStratified yet unitary sheet of paper or like fibrous web material on asingle Fourdrinier forming wire by the use of novel means and methods.

In my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,833,351 entitled Paper making machine,filed July 15th, 1929 and granted November 24, 1931, I have described anovel type of paper making machine in which the paper stock upon itsflow ontothe forming wire is immediately subjected to suction and asubstantially continuous suction is applied to the forming wire until amoist coherent web has been formed. I have also described in milcopenming application entitled Paper ma 'ng machine, Serial No. v496,146,filed November 17th,.1930, a particular, advantageous type of stockdistributing device foruse in a paper machine such as disclosedandclaimed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,833,351 above referred to. In mycopending application entitled f-Paper making machine,"Serial No.505,355, filed December 29th, 1930, I have described and claimed a fibercrossing device to be used in combination with the forming part ofa-paper machine and particularlyinconjunction with the type of papermaking machine described in the two applications above referred to.

I have now developed improvements in connection with the type of papermachine disclosed in the applicationsreferred to and have also devised anovel process for the preparation of a paper web. The improvements onmynew paper machine comprise the use of a plurality of the aforesaiddevices for effecting a more uniform and even distribution of stock ontothe forming wire to prevent the formation of eddy currents and to insureawell formed sheet. The use on a m chine of only a single such device isdescribed in my above referred to applications and by my present novelarrangement of duplicating or multiplying said devices on the machine, Iam able, to produce in a simple, uniform, and single operation, sheetmaterial containing two or more inseparable layers of materialscomprising the sheet.

-This isaccomplished by allowing stock from the first distributing meansto flow onto a portion of the forming wire which is im mediatelysubjected to suction to start the formation of the web on the wire. Thepartially formed web as it advances on the wire then passes under asecond distributing means wherein paper stock of a difierent'composition, or of the same composition but treated in a differentmethod, or fillers or finishing materials of any sort, such as clay,

blank fixe and the like is caused to be super-' imposed on the partiallyformed web to form thereon an inseparable layer. The web which nowconsists of two layers, thoroughly matted and bonded together, may nextbe passed under additional distributing means for the superpositioningthereon of additional and other layers. It is thus possible to build upa web containing as many layers as desirable and also containingfinishing materials or other surfacing materials on the surface of theweb which are so intermingledwith the paper stock in the web itself thata separation is impossible.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to prepare paperof a somewhat stratified character yet inseparable and unitary. It is afurther important object of this invention to provide a machine for thepreparation of paper built up of two or more layers, in which the stockas it flows into the machine is immediately subjected to the action ofsuction and wherein stock flow evening and distributing devices areemployed to deliver the stock onto the forming wire in a nlilannercalculated to produce a well formed s eet.

Another important object of this invention is to devise a process forthepreparation of a paper sheet having a multiplicity of inseparablelayers, which process is both economical, eflicient and simple in itsoperation.

In the preparation of a high grade book paper, for example, it ispossible by my improved process to form a sheet, the two sides of whichare formed from a high grade of pulp that will give a good finish andproper appearance to the sheet while the center of the sheet may beformed from a lower grade this way greatly reduce the cost of andconsequently lower priced stock, and in production of the finishedpaper.

Furthermore, in the preparation of a high grade-book paper it isnecessary that the paper be loaded with comparatively expensive claysand the like to lend the proper degree of opacity to the sheet,essential in mod-'- ern printing papers. In the paper machines now onthe market a large percentage of the expensive clay passes through theforming. wire in suspension immediately after the paper stock containingclay commingled therein flows onto the wire. Since the clay is in a morefinely comminuted state than the fibers and also heavier than thefibers, it tends to settle out and pass through the forming wire,thereby necessitating a very complete reuse of the'white water passingthrough the wire if losses of the expensive clay are to be minimized.

WVith the arrangement of this invention, as is more fully hereinafterdescribed, it is possible to supply the first stock distributing devicewith unloaded long fibered stock and allow this to form a matted layerof fibers directly on the bare forming wire. This para second stockdistributing device containing clay in the stock. The clay accordinglyis held on the already partially formed web, the fibers of which serveas afilter to resist the passage of the clay through the wire. Thepractically continuous suction applied beneath the Wire carrying thestock or web, however, impregnates the partially formed Web with theclay applied thereto from the second stock distributing device andthereby gives the desired degree of opacity to the sheet and also aidsin obtaining a good finish on the sheet.

' mon to the successive layers.

By the utilization of a multiplicity of stock distrlbuting devices in mynovel paper machine I am also enabled to prepare a paper sheet in whichthe pliability of the finished sheet may be controlled to a nicety' bysupplying the first and last stock distributing compartments with acomparatively long fibered sto'ck while supplying the center stockdistributing compartment with a shorter fibered stock which not onlyacts as a filler for the long fibers but also results inthe formation ofa more pliable sheet. This-is due to the fact that the weaker fibers arein the center of the sheet where the stresses are smallest 'when bendingor crumpling of the finished sheet is eifected. 7

It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a processwherein the pliability of apaper web may be readily controlled.

, Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent fromthe disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawmgs. f

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken front side elevational view of the forming part ofa paper machine embodying the principles of my invention and shown moreor less diagrammatically.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinallyof the forming part of the machine and transversely of the stockdistributing devices.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline IIIIII of one of the stock distributing devices in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline IV IV of one of the stock .distributing'devices in Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the supporting frame of a tablestructure, including side beams 11 mounted for lateral removal upontracks 13' and 14. The specific structure for the removal of the tableportionlO need not be described, since many forms of construction forthis purpose are well known in the art. A forming wire 15, trainedaround a roll 16 at one end of the machine and a couch roll 17 at theother end of the table structure, cooperates with a suction deviceindicated as a whole by the reference numeral 18. A plurality of rolls,such as idling rollers 12, serve their usual function.

The suction device 18, which embodies the features shown in my priorcopending application Serial No. 378,236 comprises astationary box likehollow member 20 preferably formed in a plurality of transverselydivided sections, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, each sectionforming a separate suction unit wherein the degree of suction may beindividually controlled and varied to suit the operating condition. Thestationary suction member 20 is supportedupon the'side beams 11 by meansof brackets which are not shown.

Rolls 29 and 29a, suitably journalled in bearing supports 30 and 31,respectively, are mounted from the side beams 11' at the head and couchroll end of the suction member 20 respectively.

An endless perforated cover, or belt, 32 is trained around the rolls 29and 29a to pass over the open top of the suction member 20. One of saidrolls 29 or 29a is adapted to be suitably driven (driving means are notshown) in a manner to cause the belt'32 to travel with the forming wire15 at the same rate of speed.

Between the roll 29a and the couch roll 17 there is mounted on the sidebeams 11, a roll 33, preferably of the same diameter and size as theroll 29a. A wire34, of a coarser mesh than that of the forming wire15,'is trained around the roll 33 and the roll 16 to cooperate with thetraveling belt 32 in supporting the upper run of the forming wire 15 asit passes over the suction device 20. The lower run of the coarser wire32-passes around a roll'35 and Joins the forming wire 15 as it passesaround an idler roll 12 at the head end.

Each of the separate suction units 21 to 28 inclusive is connectedbymeans of. a suction pipe 41 to a separator 42 having a lowerbarometric leg-43 extending into a well or tank 44 for receiving thewater extracted from the stock and Web on the forming. wire 15. A

blower-fan 45 is suitably connected by means of a header pipe 46 andconnections 47 to the upper ends of the separators- 42 to apply thedesired degree of suction to the units 21' to 28 inclusive. A ump 48 maybe used to return white water ivater containing paper stock) from thewell or container 44' for further use in the process.

member .20 there are mounted a plurality of longitudinally extendingtroughs 49 (Figures 2, 3 and 4), which are adapted to be filled withwater from a plurality of transversely extending pipes 51 (Figure 2)extending through the rear Wall of the suction member 20. Each of saidpipes 51 is connected to a standpipe 52 (Figure 1) provided with anoverflow pipe 54, whereby a sufficient head is created to cause thewater in the troughs end wall of the troughs Within the suction member20 to maintain the suction between the suction member 20 and thetraveling belt or cover 32.

The forming structure of the paper machine thus far described issubstantially that described and claimed in my U. S. Patent No.1,833,351 referred to above,'containing inaddition, however, adescription of a coarser wire 34 which is employed in the'presentstructure to support the forming wire and the corrugations of thetraveling cover or belt 32 to prevent the closing up of openings in Inthe upper portion of the hollow suction the wire such as might takeplace if the wire "rested directly upon the corrugations of thetraveling belt 32.

An additional-feature embodied in my present invention is the provisionof a. plu-' 'rality of stock delivering -means indicated generally bythe reference numeral 90. While I have shown three such stock deliveryunits,

91, 92 and 93, it is to be understood that any number greater than onemay be used w thout departing from the principles embodied in myinvention. Any unit not desired to be used maybe cut out of operationby'merely cutting off the feedsupply. Thus I may OP? crate units 91 and92 alone or if desired, I may use only alternate umts.

Compartment 91 is mounted directly over "sections 21 and 22 of thesuction box 22. Compartment 92 is mounted directly over sections 23 and24, and compartment 93 is mounted directly over sections 25 and 26 ofthe suction box 20. Each of the compartments 91, 92 and by a motor 104(Fig.1). Each cylinder 94,

-95 and 96 is equipped at each end with an annular supporting ring 97best shown in Figures 3 and 4. The supporting rings 97 are mounted torotate on rollers 98 and 99, said rollers being supported on a suitableframe structure.

The framestructure preferably comprises a pair of side walls 85 restingon and supported by side rails 86. An end wall 87 also secured to theside walls 85 and spaced at its lower edge above the forming wire 15 asat 88 (Fig. 2) extends transversely of the wire to serve as a retainingwall for a pond of paper stock 89 that is created above the formingwire.

The fourth retaining wall of compartment 91 is an adjustable slice 100which separates compartment 91 from compartment 92. The slice 100 issupported also from the side walls 85 and is vertically adjustable byany suitable adjusting mechanism, such as shown at 101. Compartment 92is defined by slicewalls 100 and 102 and by the side walls 85. Likewisecompartment 93 is defined by slice walls 102 and 103 and side walls 85.

Paper stock of the same or different furnish is delivered through pipes106, 107 and 108 into the interiors of the rotating cylinders 94, 95 and96, respectively by means of connecting, transverse conduits or pipes109, 110 and 111, respectively. For example, a process of making apliable paper sheet as mentioned above may be effected by deliveringthrough pipe 106 into conduit 109 a long fibered stock and through pipe107 into conduit 110 a short fibered stock while a long fibered stock ofthe same variety as delivered into conduit 109 is supplied to conduit111. A strong pliable sheet will thus be built up on the forming wirewhich has a short fibered filler and a long fibered outer layer.

Conduits 109, 110 and 111 extend the full length of the cylinders 94, 95and 96, respectively, and have longitudinally extending slots 112, 113and 114, respectively, on their upper sides and a plurality of aperturessuch as 115 on their lower sides. The conduits may be suitably supportedin a stationary position by any means, as by a bracket 116 (Figs. 3 and4), at each end of the conduit. Any suitable means for preparing thestock delivered into the interior of the cylinders 94 to 96 inclusivemay be used.

The longitudinal slots 112, 113 and 114 and the spaced apertures, suchas shown at 115, allow the escape of stock both upwardly and downwardlyto prevent settling out and the accumulation of any stock within theconduits 109 to 111 inclusive. As shown in Figure 2,

' the stock fills the conduits 109, 110 and 111 and discharges throughthe longitudinal slots 112, 113 and 114 down over the sides of said tureor other means for delivering and distributing the stock into therotating cylinder through one or both ends thereof.

The stock is confined at the ends of the rotating cylinders 94, 95 and96 by end walls such as the partition 120 supported from the conduit 109(Fig. 3). Escape of stock through the joints between the walls and theperiphery of the cylinders 94,95 and 96 is prevented by suitable packing121.

The stock delivery cylinders 94, 95 and 96 are of foraminousconstruction throughout their entire length intermediate the partitionwalls 120 and in their preferred embodiments comprise a cylinder havingrows of small holes 122 closely arranged together and through which thestock flows into the ponds formed above the wire 15. These holes122provide nozzle-like delivery orifices which serve to mix the fibers ofthe stock as it passes through and to break up bunches or collections offiber if any should reach this point of the machine. the wire 15 in acondition of uniform distribution and with absence of any eddy currents.In connection with the rotating cylinders 94, 95 and 96 there isprovided in the interior of each cylinder troughs 123, 124 and 125containing suitable draining means shown at 132, 133 and 134. Directlyabove the cylinders 94 to 96 inclusive are mounted shower pipes 129, 130and 131 to direct a stream of water downwardly against the outside ofthe foraminous cylinder to clean out the holes 122. The water is drainedinto the troughs 123, 124 and 125 and doctor bars 126, 127 and 128secured to one end of the troughs are adapted to scrape against theinner surface of the rotating drums to cause any dirt or wateradheringthereto to flow down into the troughs.

.In addition to the rotating drums 94, 95 and 96 there are also providedfurther mechanisms for producing an even and uniform The stock thusflows onto.

or belt 146 from the drivi ig shaft of the motor 104.

Said bars 141 are provided with spaced.

transversely extending blades 147 which are spaced slightly above theforming wire 15 and when oscillated'by means of the driving meansdescribed above, including the eccentric 144, serve to keep the stock ingentle agitation to prevent uneven and too rapid settling out in theponds formed above the forming wire 15.

It will be apparent fromthe foregoing description that assoon as thestock passes into the interiors of therotating foraminous drums 94: to96, inclusive, it is subjected to a suction action acting through thetraveling belt 32, coarse wire 34 and the forming wire 15 as it passesover the hollow suction member 20. The result is that an initial depositof the fibers occurs before the stock passes out from the ponds formedin the compartments directly over the forming wire under the lower edgesof the slices 100, 102and 103.

Due to the fact that there is no great velocity of flow'in the directionof the wire within the ponds, settling is effected under a relativelyquiescent condition and due to the distributing and aiding action of therotating foraminous drums 93'to 96, inclusive, and theagitating devices140, the deposit of stock on the forming wire prior to its passagebeyond the slice from one compartment to another and beyond the slice inthe last compartmen results in initial matting or bonding ofthe fibers.general direction but are pointing in all directions, this initial webforming step is closely similar to what occurs in the formation of handmade sheets. This obviously makes for the formation of a stronger andbetter sheet of paper.

Until the formingwire 15 passes beyond the couch roll end of the suctiondevice 20, the stock on the wire is subjected tocontinuwater from thestock is rapid and continuous. The degree of suction to which the stockis subjected may be varied due to the provision scribed,paper havingnovel and improved 7 characteristics can readily be made. Moreespecially is such a machine adapted for the manufacture of paper havinga somewhat Stratified or composite character yet remaining alsoessentially unitary in nature and thus diifering from multi-ply papermade on a multiple cylinder machine.

. While characteristically adapted for use in the manufacture of paperof the composite nature above described, the machine of my Because thefibers have no common departing from the principles of this invention,and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereonotherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a paper machine, a forming wire, a suction device associatedtherewith and a plurality of revolving reticular drumsmounted over thewire and suction device and cooperating with each other to feed thestock onto said wire. l

2. In a paper machine, a forming wire, a suction device associatedtherewith, a plurality of meansforming several ponds over a portion ofthe wiresubject to the action of said suction device and a revolvingreticular drum mounted in each pond through which the stock flows ontosaid wire.

3. In a paper machine, a stationary suction device, a forming wiretraveling thereover, means including more than one slice defining oversaid wire a plurality of enclosed spaces, a perforated drum 'mountedtransversely of said wire within each of said enclosed spaces and meansfor introducing stock into each of said drums to flow through theperforations thereof onto said wire.

4. In 'a' paper machine, a' pair of spaced rolls, a stationary suctiondevice positioned therebetween, a forming wire trained around said rollsto travel over said suction device, members including a plurality ofslices dea stock distributing means mounted within ous suction action,so that the removal of leach of sald ponds 5. In a paper machine, aplurality of spaced parallel rolls, an endless forming wire trainedtherearound, a stationary suction device operatively associated with thegreater portion of the upper run of the wire, walls including aplurality of slices defining a plurality of ponds for stock abovea-portion of said wire subjected to suction and means within said wallsfor uniformly distributing stock to eachof said ponds and maintaining ahead of stock ahead of each slice.

6. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, an outerforming wire traveling thereover' and trained therearound, a sectionalhollow suction member positioned within the loop of the forming wire, anends less perforated belt operatively .associated with said suctionmember through which suct1on is applied to the forming wire, arelatively coarse wire traveling with and between said belt and formingwire over the surface of said hollow suction member, walls including aplurality of slices defining a plurality of ponds for stock over aportion of the forming wire subjected to suction and a rotating flowevener and stock mixing cylinder in the path of the stock flowing toeach of said ponds.

7. In a paper machine, a pair of spaced rolls, a stationary suctiondevice positioned therebetween, a forming wire trained around said rollsto travel over said suction device and a series of adjustable stockfeeding devices cooperating with each other to deliver a predeterminedamount of stock in distinct stages to said wire as it advances over saidsuction device.

' 8. In a paper machine, a pair of spaced rolls, a stationary suctiondevice positioned therebetween, a forming wire trained around said rollsto travel over said suction device, a primary adjustable stock feedingdevice to deliver a predetermined amount of stock to the raw formingwire, a secondary stock feeding device to deliver a predetermined amountof stock to the partially formed web from said primary device and athird stock distributing device to aid in building up the web on saidforming wire, all three stock distributing devices cooperating toproduce a unitary web of paper.

9. The process of forming a paper web which comprises delivering indistinct stages stock to the forming wire from a plurality. of pondscreated over the forming wire as the forming wire advances under saidponds.

10. The process of preparing a paper sheet, which comprises deliveringstock to the forming Wire of a paper machine from a pond created oversaid forming wire, superimposing additional stoek from separate pondscreated over the forming wire as saidwire advances and thereby buildingup a paper sheet composed of inseparable layers.

11. The process of forming a paper sheet composed of inseparable layers,which comprises advancing the forming wire of a paper machine under aplurality of stock distributing devices to superimpose successive layersof stock upon the forming wire and continuously applying suction to saidforming wire and stock thereon to remove the greater.

portion of the water therefrom.

12. The process of preparing a paper sheet which comprises deliveringunloaded stock to a forming wire subject to suction from a pond createdover the wire, superimposing loaded stock from another pond created overthe wire upon the partially formed web of said unloaded stock, applyingfurther suction to penetrate said loaded stock into said unloaded stocklayer and maintaining said suction to remove the greater portion of thewater from the stock on the forming wire.

13. The method of forming fibrous web material, which comprisesdepositing fibrous material in aqueous suspension from a quiescent poolonto a traveling foraminous surface subject to suction, a partialdeposition of said fibrous material thereby occurring to form a mattedfibrous web and delivering from a second quiescent pool at a successivepoint in the travel of said surface a further quantity of fibrousmaterial in aqueous suspension over said matted fibrous web while stillon said traveling foraminous surface and subject to suction.

14. The method of forming fibrous web material, which comprisesdelivering separately and successively from quiescent pools unloaded andloaded stock to a traveling foraminous surface subjected to continuoussuction from the point of first delivery of said stock to the point atwhich most of the water has been removed from said stock.

15. The process of preparing web material which comprises deliveringstock to a traveling horizontal forming wire subject to suetion andbuilding up said Web on said wire by successive simultaneousapplications of stock thereto while continuously applying suction tosaid forming wire along its travel from the point of initial depositionof stock thereon until a coherent composite web is formed.

16. In the process of preparing a paper sheet, the steps which comprisedelivering a long fibered stock to the bar forming wire of a papermachine, advancing said wire, superimposing a short fibered stock uponthe partially formed long fibered stock web, superimposing a layer oflong fibered stock on said short fibered stock and continuously applyingsuctionto said forming wire along its travel from the point of initialdeposition of stock thereon until a moist coherent web is formed,thereby forming a paper sheet composed of layers inseparately bondedtogether to form a unitary web.

17. In the process of preparing a paper sheet, the steps of deliveringstock to the forming wire of a paper machine, building up. a paper webby further application of stock to the wire at spaced points along itslength and continuously applying suction to said wire along its travelfrom the point of initial deposition of stock thereon until a moistcomposite web is formed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Beloit, RockCounty,

Wisconsin.

EARL E. BERRY.

